The Union-Tribune followed up our discussion from last week about that whacky poll that Chula Vista taxpayers funded. It, of course, showed that 66 percent of the voters supported an emergency sales-tax increase when it later turned out that 67 percent of voters rejected the measure.
From the U-T:
CHULA VISTA -- Proposition A, the proposed sales tax rate increase that Chula Vista voters rejected in May, left taxpayers footing the bill for several expenses. It also cost an employee union $330, after officials discovered workers were campaigning for the ballot measure from a city building.
The city paid $19,800 to a consulting firm for a phone survey -- which was never publicized -- that showed voters would support a tax increase. It also paid $255,000 to the county's registrar of voters to conduct the special May 5 mail ballot election.
Was never publicized? I believe Chula Vista's City Council got a full public briefing on the results of the poll. But they probably didn't talk all that long into the night about how much it cost. They heard that more than two-thirds of the public would vote yes. And that's all they needed.
But then the U-T quotes City Councilman John McCann:
This will go down as the biggest boondoggle and waste of taxpayer money in Chula Vista history,” said Councilman John McCann, who opposed the measure.
Actually, the biggest boondoggle of taxpayer money in Chula Vista is simply the way the city's been run over the last decade. It borrowed more money than it could ever hope to pay off unless the housing mania continued. Until they just deal with those debts, everything else is a distraction.
In case you missed it, John Nienstedt, the pollster who brought that ludicrous poll to my attention, had a follow-up letter posted here.
It is well known that the business of newspapers is falling apart not the least because of the near complete desertion of the medium by those who used to pay for classified ads. Craigslist won and newspapers lost -- at least for now. So I was surprised the other day when my wife, who's starting a business, called around to place a fictitious business name ad, as is required.
None of the papers called her back.
But then, finally, the Business Journal did. So kudos to them. There might not be as much money out there as before, but at least someone's still working for it.
Finally a bit of the lighter side gone awry: Little Italy Realtor extraordinaire Anthony Napoli, is Italian. And so are many of his friends (full disclosure: my mother is a pure-bred Italian). Napoli called Monday with a gripe about City Councilman Carl DeMaio.
Seems that DeMaio -- who has a much more Italian name than I do, but not nearly the eyebrows -- upset some at the annual big event of the Italian-American Association, Unico San Diego, which was held Sunday.
DeMaio was the keynote speaker at the event. Napoli said the councilman ended his speech with a deadpan about his ancestry (this is Napoli's memory of the quote): "Two of the most important things in my life are the Catholic Church and the Mafia."
That's one of the less funny things you could say at a Unico meeting. The organization's very existence is a result of hard-working paisanos upset by jokes and stereotypes like that.
Napoli said the people in the room were stunned and that DeMaio left rapidly without going back to his seat.
"Why at a black-tie affair of Italian Americans why would you use the word mafia?" Napoli asked.
Those who know Carl well know that he sometimes displays a childish side that does not do him well, and occasionally gets him in trouble, as in this case. There was also the sign-stealing episode in his run for the City Council seat, as another example. His boyish, awkward offer at Council to toss a coin to resolve an issue? Yikes. But the main point is that the list of childish indiscretions he commits need to stop. Lose a healthy sense of humor? No. Lose the immaturity that exceeds appropriate bounds? Yes.
Couldn't agree more Robert. I don't believe Carl has a malicious nature at all. I'm sure he'd like to have that remark back. His humor sometimes causes me to roll my eyes, but he's certainly no mean spirit. And if we can't take a joke, then .... well you get the idea.
I was there ,and no one that I talked to said anything negative about Mr.DeMaio's comments. Most were happy he came to speak . One thing Napoli failed to mention was the $8000.in scholarships Unico gave to 4 outstanding students. It was a great event!!!! Shame on you Napoli
As an attendee of the event, I must note that most of us in the room not only got that the councilman was making a joke, but thought it was funny! I'm quite disappointed that Mr. Napoli felt he had to run to the media instead of simply contacting the councilman through his office to voice his concerns (his contact information can easily be found--send an email or try calling!!). This feels more like an attention grab on the part of Mr. Napoli than a professional way of sharing these concerns.
Is this news? Were you there to confirm the statement? No. I was. This is NOT what DeMaio said. Anthony needs to try and get advertising the old fashioned way, not by creating "news" out of a misquoted joke!
I thought San Diego Italians were men and had thicker skins. In my neighborhood in Mission Hills that is certainly true. Good job he didn't mention the antics of the current Italian president back in the old country. Keep up the good work Carl and give Scott Lewis a kiss next time u see him just to show him u r a good guy..
I was there, I thought it was funny. Then again that's kinda right up my alley sense of humor wise. If someone had a problem with DeMaio's joke shouldn't they have brought it up to him instead of going to complain to Lewis?
So, Carl brings a little gayete (gaiety) into a room full of Italians and the poop hits the fan. Personally, I'd much rather have him continue with his stand up routine than his the world is coming to an end and only DeMaio can save it routine.
Can you imagine if someone like the Mayor or one of the other Council members made the "joke" or statement in public to a professional service organization? Can we joke about stereotypes privately or at comedy clubs, sure? In this setting, it was inappropriate, even if made by another Italian-American who holds a significant public office. Whether DeMaio likes it or not....public officials are held to a higher standard than those in the private sector. And, if openly gay...to an even higher standard when homophobes are looking for any hair out of place. For for any good DeMaio may or may not do in his remaining days, voters remember these kinds of remarks. As the comment gets passed around, it will take on other connotations and people will say he was comparing the Church with the Mafia.
Let's be really politically correct Brett. What does Carl's sexual orientation have to do with how he has to act in public? I don't think Scott should have made a story out of a non-story unless he views his professional role to be San Diego's nanny. He didn't do his homework on whether the joke fell flat and the Voice has no formal mechanism to correct mistakes and offer mea culpas-something he claims they do. Because I think this episode raises real questions about the leadership at the Voice I will be forwarding this to all the staff. BTY I still read the Voice and it is an important voice in San Diego. I'm just waiting for Scott to turn 40.
I'm hearing that the UNICO board members have decided to remove Anthony Napoli from the board at the next meeting. They vehemently disagree with his misrepresentation of what was said, and are sick of his painfully obvious attempts to generate earned media for himself to promote his struggling real estate practice. Shame on Scott Lewis for not contacting UNICO itself or others at the event for verification of Napoli's dribble.
What this out-of-context mini-smear tells me is that the city hall/union/UT/Voice opinion leaders are scratching around for the next Aguirre. You know, the abrasive loose cannon bull-in-a-wedgewood- shop who is ruining the gravy train in paradise for everyone else. Right now the opinion leaders are undecided between DeMaio and Goldsmith: who will truly be the next boogeyman so we can all come together in a righteous grand mal seizure of loathing and push this bad seed out of our gilded cage? On one hand, the very fact that DeMaio is on the Council demands action of some sort. He simply is not "in crowd". On the other hand we are shocked to see Goldsmith following Aguirre's reform agenda, hacking away at our delicious little perks like the Texas chainsaw maniac. After all, these are the "services" voters have "demanded"!
It's kind of curious that there has been more than one allegation that Mr. Napoli is doing this as some sort of publicity stunt or marketing campaign for his real estate business. Sounds more like he was/is generally offended by DeMaio's remark. If DeMaio knew anything about the founding and mission of UNICO, he would realize that his "joke" is the last thing that org's membership needed to hear. I wouldn't be surprised if DeMail himself was posting some of these comments.
Scott Lewis: aren't these comments enough to coax an apology out of you and a promise -- at least to yourself -- not to take any "news" from Anthony Napoli that hasn't been vetted?
this is really getting ridiculous. demanding an apology from a reporter for running a story about a quip gone flat at a black tie event? that's ridiculous. does DeMaio take issue with the accuracy of what was quoted? if he was misquoted, then shame on any reporter. i haven't read anywhere that DeMaio denied making the statement. DeMaio has already behaved childishly enough to alienate plenty of people in and around City Hall, separate and apart from this asinine statement. So don't sweat, Carl and your operatives who are planting defensive comments here.
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Scott Lewis on Politics
The Scott Lewis on Politics blog, abbreviated cleverly as SLOP, is a collection of observations, insights and the occasional scoop on public affairs in San Diego. Please feel free to e-mail Scott at scott.lewis@voiceofsandiego.org.
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